City arts board starts meeting

Thursday

Jan 16, 2014 at 6:07 AM

Columbia’s arts commission set goals during its inaugural meeting — including connecting local artists, developing a strategic plan to grow the arts community and promoting arts awareness both locally and across the state.

Columbia’s arts commission set goals during its inaugural meeting — including connecting local artists, developing a strategic plan to grow the arts community and promoting arts awareness both locally and across the state.

Joe Kilgore was elected as chairman of the arts commission during the Wednesday meeting. Kilgore said he was "excited to serve" on the commission and help grow the arts in Columbia.

"I am excited for our community," Kilgore said. "This is a great step forward for Columbia. To see an influx of arts in all its forms to our community is going to make us nothing but better."

Kilgore said one of the commission’s first tasks is to make the arts community aware of its existence.

"I think the more enthusiasm, energy and awareness we generate about this commission will help generate our course of work," he said.

Other officers elected during the meeting included Lucy Scott-Kuykendall as vice chairman, Susan Manning as secretary and Ed Moore as treasurer. Council member Mike Greene will also serve as a non-voting member and liaison to the commission.

The commission is currently working to bring both local artists and state representatives together for a February commission meeting and kick-off celebration. The event is tentatively scheduled for Columbia State Community College’s Pryor Art Gallery. Kilgore said invitations to the meeting will be extended to both members of Columbia’s arts community and Tennessee Arts Commission Director Anne B. Pope.

Kilgore said one of the commission’s first goals it to connect the various arts communities within the city.

"One of the things we need to do as an organization is get our hands around what are the arts in our community, what are our assets and build from that," he said.

The commission will also work toward meeting with arts organizations, helping with arts grants and programs and coming up with a strategic plan

Mayor Dean Dickey said the arts commission will help promote the city.

"We believe this committee is one of the most important steps we have taken as a council to better our city," he said.

City Attorney Tim Tisher said the creation of the commission has created interest among local residents.

"I cannot think of many issues the city has faced that have promoted as much excitement as the creation of this committee," Tisher said. "The city seems very eager for this committee and to promote the arts in our area."

Tisher said the hope is the arts commission will grow into a board independent of the city and possibly gain nonprofit status. He said attaining a 501(c)(3) status could allow the arts commission access to more fundraising opportunities.

Regularly scheduled monthly meetings for the arts commission will begin in March at 4 p.m. every third Tuesday of the month.